Stenciling



Dec. 16, 1930. so 1,784,912

STENCILING Filed March 31, 1927 Sfenci/ rubbed wifh powder puff v 2 Blocked ow Parf .5 fenci/ placed on e/ecfrified surface and rubbed Finished desl'yn on e/ecIrif/"ed surface, in

pa wderm'aye form.

Inventor Beatr" c e P. Sccp; 2

Her Attdr'ne Patented Dec. 16, 1930 m'rmca r. soon, or mannimmn, massacnusa'rrs STENCILING Application filed larch 81, 1887. Serial No. 180,078.

- This invention relates to improvements in the art of stenciling.

It is an object the invention to provide a means formakin temporary figures-and 8 designs upon suitab e surfaces by using dry and non-sticky powders in lieu of the paints hitherto employed.

It is a further ob'ect to provide a stencil arrangement ada te primarily for the use of 10 children, althoug capable of more extended and serious applications.

The usual process of stenciling involves the use of a thick wet paint or pigmentaste which is applied to a surface throug an apertured sheet whose cut-out portions form the desi duce. uch an apertured sneet once applied to a surface, cannot be removed readily without smearing the design produced and unless allowed to dr when so removed it is apt to soil objects with which it comes in contact. The stenciled object likewise must be handled carefully until the paint is dry, and the same surface obviously cannot be used repeatedly to receive stenciled characters. These defects render the usual stencilin process and paints entirely unsuitable for t e use of children.

The present invention contemplates the use of a suitable dryand non-viscous powder instead of a wet viscous paint or paste. This powder, combined with a novel method of applying the same with a'stencil' screen of more or less usual construction, provides a 35 stenciled silhouette which is dry when applied, is suiiiciently adherent to the surface to which it is applied to "withstand jars and vibration and remains indefinitely on the surface if not disturbed, and yet can be rubbed cleanl off, or otherwise removed, at will so that t e same surface can be used repeatedly to receive the stenciled characters. The powder composing the stenciled character is such that it does not stain any usual surface with which it comes in contact and can be removed by a cloth or brush or in any other convenient manner. The process forming the object of this invention as well as the materials used therein, are therefore, well suited for the use of small children who are suita or character it is desired to pro-.

heedless, usually, of the possibilit of damaging) surfaces which ap ar to t. em to be le for the application of stenciled des1 ns. I

e invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which Fi 1 shows the prepared stencil in its raise position,

.Fig. 2 illustrates the same in its applied position, while 0 .Fig. 3 represents a surface to which the design carried by the stencil has been transferred.

Referring in detail to the drawing in carryin out my process, I employ a stencil 55 whic comprises a rigid supporting frame 1 over which is tightly stretched a sheet of screen-like textile material 2 such as bolting cloth or similar material characterized by having a plurality of fine and closeiy spaced 3 openings therethrou h. In lieu o boltin cloth, a sheet of muslin can beused althoug bolting cloth is preferred. This sheet forms a screen on which the design to be stenciled is applied and the interstices of the screen around the borders of the design and at those portions of the design that are not desired to e printed are filled in or sealed with a paint or a glue so that the perforations of the screen are open only at those portions of the design adapted to be imprinted on the surface to which the stencil screen is applied. Thus, in the drawing, Fig. 1, 3 represents the design while 2 represents the sealed interstices. The stencil frame is then applied to the surface to be ornamente 5, the screen beingv placed in intimate contact with the surface. A suitable powder is applied to :the inner face of the stencil screen within the frame, and is rubbed into the interstices ai -the screen by a wad of soft cloth or a powdfi pufl' 4. The powder may be sifted onto the screen or it may be deposited first 0n the wad of cloth or powder puff. All portions of the screen bearing the design are rubbed repeatedly 95 with the powder applicator with reasonable but not too heavy a. pressure during which time the stencil screen is held immovable upon the surface 5. The stencil screen is thereupon removed and it will be found that the powder has gone through the open meshes of t e screen and has adhered to the surface .15 leaving a powder outline or silhouette of the design. The powder adheres quite strongly to the surface and will remain thereon indefinitely if not disturbed. It may be brushed off by the hand or a cloth thus leaving the surface in its original condition. The dry or non-viscous lpowders of many substances may be use Cornstarch ,is very satisfactory. Talcum powder, flour, and powdered chalk are also satisfactory. A wet powder, or one havin large flakes or granules cannot be used satlsfactoril The powder may be suitably colored i desired and quite artistic effects may be roduced by properly selecting the color 0 the powder and the back ground of the surface on which the design is to be stenciled. Multi-colored designs may be produced by rubbin one ortion only of the stencil with a ow er 0 one color and another portion witn a powder of another color.

It is found that powder adheres better to some surfaces than to other surfaces. lhe powder seems to adhere to polished metal surfaces and to varnished surfaces, whether smooth or somewhat rough and irregular. It will also adhere to glass. The powder adheres less stron 1y to certain kinds of glazed papers or pastecards but can be made to adere strongly thereto by first rubbing the paper with the hand or with a cloth to impart a uniform electrostatic charge to the paper, whereupon the powder is caused to adhere very strongly and indefinitely to the paper.

I am aware that it has been common practice to make stenciled designs by forcmg a thick paint or pi ent through a screen of similar nature. l iie method of applying 'paint, however, is materially different from my process, of applying powder. In applying paint, a squeegee, or sometimes a roller, of the full width of the design is employed. Thick paint is s read onto the screen at one end in front of t e squeegee and the squeegee is ressed heavily'down upon the screen and is drawn once only across the screen and the screen is then removed from the surface. If it is attempted to rub in the paint b repeatedl strokmg the squeegee back an forth it is ound that the design becomes blurred.

I findthat I cannot apply the powder by a squeegee or roller. The powder will not adhere to the surface except possibly in spots. A brush is not satisfactory asa powder applicator as it produces a spotty silhouette,

wherein the powder is unevenly deposited. I

find that rubbing the screen repeatedly with the powder pu or clothwad is the only method of which I am aware thatwill cause the powder to adhere to the surface. I am of the opinion that therepeated rubbing action char to the powder or to-thematerial on who the screen is placed and so causes the powder to adhere to the surface of the material when the screen is removed. As evidence of this is the fact that some surfaces that will not ordinarily take the wder are caused to do so by prelimina y rubbing them to-impart an eectric char e thereto. The mechanism of my process, 0 course, is entirely different from that producing the adherence of paint, which owes its adherence to its viscous nature.

I claim:

1. The process of stencilin a design upon the surface of an object whic consists in 1mpartin an electric charge to the surface of the ob ect by rubbin it, applying a dry powder to the surface t rough a desi n-bearing stencil screen applied to the sur ace by repeatedly rubbing the powder through the screen and onto the electrified surface, and removing the screen from the surface.

2. The method of applying a design to the surface of an object which consists in setting up a substantially uniform electrical char e on said. surface and rubbing a dry powder through a design bearing stencil screen upon said surface.

3. The method of applying a design is the surface of an object which consists in an? hing a homcgeneousdry powder through a stencil and upon said surface to produce the desired design and simultaneously set up a static charge to effect the adherence of the powder.

4. The method of making a temporary design which consists in placing a stencil over a surface to receive the design and simultaneously creatin an'electrical charge on said surface and ru bing a dry powder through said stencil to said surface.

5. The method of creating a design upon a surface consisting in mechanically distributing a dry powder in to the form'of the desired design and creating a uniform static charge to effect the adherence of said powder to said surface.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

BEATRICE P. SCOTT. 

